Feng Shui Corrections for a Mirror Facing the Front Door

In the ancient Chinese practice of feng shui, a mirror facing the front door is considered a hindrance to good energy flow through the house.

The Role of Mirrors in Feng Shui

Mirrors are called the aspirin of feng shui for a good reason. With the proper placement of mirrors, you can considerably shift the feng shui energy flow and create better feng shui energy in any space, be it a home or an office.

There are many options for placing mirrors in your home—from placing a big mirror above the fireplace to mounting a floor-to-ceiling mirror in your walk-in closet. It is good to understand the feng shui guidelines for placing mirrors in your home because they can be very powerful.

But it is equally important to know that mirrors can create bad energy if they are placed in the wrong feng shui areas of your home. Usually, these are specific bagua areas of the feng shui energy map that do not like the water feng shui element that mirrors bring into the space. In addition to the bagua requirements, there are two especially bad feng shui placements of a mirror in your home:

Mirrors Near the Front Door

A mirror facing the front door pushes away all the good feng shui energy that is about to enter the house. After all, this is one of the main functions of a mirror—to reflect the energy back. This is why we are able to see our own reflection in the mirror.

In feng shui practice, it is believed that the house absorbs energy (chi) through the front door, similar to the way a human face absorbs nutrition through the mouth. This is why the front door is often called the mouth of chi infeng shui. A mirror facing the door works in opposition to the energy flow you want. Increasing the distance between the front door and the mirror will only slightly change the effect of the mirror facing the main door, so if you have such a mirror, the best feng shui advice is to either remove it entirely or to slightly reposition the mirror so that it slightly angled and does not directly reflect the door.

If you cannot remove the mirror—for example, if the mirror is built-in and you are renting the place, or if you have mirrored closet doors facing the main door—then you have to look for creative solutions.

Feng shui always works best when it is applied in a creative and subtle way. So, you can cover the mirror with some creative applique (if it works for your home decor), or even paint over it with a washable paint in a great color. Here are some other suitable feng shui solutions for a mirror facing the front door:

Tastefully hang a piece of art over the mirror, chosen carefully for attractiveness and feng shui suitability.

Center a tall piece of furniture on the mirrored wall. Again, you have to be sure the piece looks good and complements the space rather than making it feel out of place.

Place applique (decorative stickers) on the mirror. (Stores like Ikea have some great removable wall and mirror stickers in various designs.)

Other Feng Shui Tips for Using Mirrors

Feng Shui practice has many tips on how to use mirrors effectively to control energy flow in your home. Here are just a few:

A dining room is regarded as the best place for hanging mirrors. Dining rooms are considered "wealth vaults," and it is thought that they increase prosperity when placed in dining rooms.

With mirrors placed near windows, be careful about what is being reflected indoors from outside. Where possible, make sure they reflect a pleasing nature scene rather than scenes of industry or machinery.

Avoid mirrors in the kitchen. A kitchen is thought to have negative energy, and mirrors will double that energy.

In bathrooms, avoid mirrors that face the door or the toilet. A mirror in either of these places is thought to confine or multiply negative energy.

Mirrors facing the bed can lead to sleep problems. Mirrors multiply energy and may be too stimulating in a bedroom.

Mirrors are good for hallways but don't place them at the end. At the end of a hallway, a mirror stops or repels energy flow, while in the middle of a side wall it simply slows the flow of energy.

A mirror should not face a desk. Not only is it distracting, but it is thought to multiply the workload.

Look for creative ideas to solve your problems, and you will attract good feng shui (called sheng chi). Do not to neglect careful positioning of your mirrors, as poor placement can create a counterproductive, challenging quality to the energy flow in your space. Correct use of mirrors is a key component of a good feng shui home.